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Black Death. 1347-1351. Black Death. "It was dark before I could get home, and so land at Churchyard stairs, where to my great trouble I met a dead corps of the plague in the narrow ally just bringing down a little pair of stairs."-S. Pepys. Ring a-round the rosy Pocket full of posies
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Black Death 1347-1351
Black Death "It was dark before I could get home, and so land at Churchyard stairs, where to my great trouble I met a dead corps of the plague in the narrow ally just bringing down a little pair of stairs."-S. Pepys Ring a-round the rosy Pocket full of posies Ashes, ashes! We all fall down!
Black Death • What was it? It was a devastating disease that spread throughout Asia and Europe. • When was it? Around 1347-1351. It reached its height around 1349. • Where was it? Asia and Europe.
Theories • There is still some debate on what disease the black death actually was. • The most common theory on what is was suggest that there were two different forms of the disease. • These two different forms helped the disease spread quickly
Forms of disease Bubonic Plague Pneumonic Plague This form was spread through the air from human to human. Once a human was infected the disease could spread from person to person through touching, coughing, and sharing food and drink. • This form was spread by fleas that lived on rats and other animals. • The fleas would travel on the animalstowardareas populated by humans. • Once around humans the fleas would bite the humans and infected that person.
Where did it Start? • Mongol armies from Asia were attacking port cities in the Black Sea. • The Mongol armies are believed to have been infected. • The army carried the disease back to Asia. • And from the Black Sea, rats with fleas would get onto Merchant ships. • Port cities and coastal regions were struck first and then it spread inland.
The Disease • Usually when infected dark splotches would appear on the skin. • Other symptoms were High fever, vomiting, and severe headaches. • Most died within a few days of being infected. • Most priest and doctors died because they were caring for the sick and caught it. • About 25 million Europeans died-roughly 1/3 of the population.
The disease cont. • Population went from around 125 million to about 90 million in China. • Parts of N. Africa and the Byzantine empire were also infected.
Effects of the Black death • Most common reaction to the plague was the thought that God was punishing them for their sins. • Some people tried witchcraft and magic to end the Plague. • In some areas people blamed the Jewish saying they poisoned the wells. • This lead to anti-clericalism and anti-semitism
Effects Cont. • Population loss led to the end of the Manorial system. (1/3 of Europe and Asia) • Vacant land was bought up by the wealthy making them wealthier. • People left rural areas for the cities where they could demand higher wages. • Art and literature now had a new theme: Death
Effects that are still felt today • “Saved by the Bell” • “Grim Reaper” • Prices and population are lower than they would have been. • Fear of Anthrax and other chemical warfare. • Fear of new disease strains such as H1N1.